I learned it on PBS

Back in the seventies PBS, the Public Broadcasting System, was a fetid backwater running old episodes of Monty Python, subsisting on government grants and the meager donations collected in their endless fund raising drives. Bitter about their marginal existence the network lased out viciously against the abuses of corporate America, exposing the unsavory practices of Big Oil, Big Business and Big Campaign Contributions. The news and documentaries on PBS tended to be very critical of the status quo.

Something had to be done. Not wanting to be unduly influenced by corporate sponsors PBS refused take money in exchange for advertising time on their network. So instead Mobile Oil Corporation had a brilliant idea. Mobile gave PBS millions of dollars to produce Masterpiece Theater. Other big companies followed suit. PBS began to move up in the world. Higher production values meant more viewers. More viewers brought an increase in the donations and public support equals larger grants from the feds. A steady income can be addictive.

Now PBS gets major funding from "advertisers" in the form of acknowledged sponsorship of various programs. Utterly dependent on the oil/money pipeline the executives at our public television network have silenced their editorial staff. Mission accomplished!

World governments could learn a lesson here. For as long as I can remember the standard practice in international politics has been to refuse foreign aid to countries whose leaders were not playing by the rules, to ban trade with them and cut off diplomatic relations. Works real good. A half century of this tactic and Cuba's Fidel Castro is still in charge. The isolation imposed has just served to consolidate the power of the communist regime.

Maybe they should try the other way round? El Presidente' cancels free elections, give him a nice humanitarian package. Socialist government violates human rights make them a preferred trading partner. Lavish money on 'em. Throw large piles of cold hard cash in their direction. No strings attached, no conditions, nothing asked in return.

Not only will the rulers benefit but according to the theory of "trickle down economics" the standard of living enjoyed by the peasants will go up as well. And when everyone gets dependent on your largess then you start asking for small "concessions". They won't be able to refuse. Then add a few "conditions". Sweeten the pot with a free trade agreement and poof in a few short years you're telling them how to run a country. They have no choice but to become a democracy.

Mission accomplished.

OWL

June 6, 2007